7 replies to this topic

[Dave]

I started learning PHP.

I wrote my first php function. It generates a random picture on the page every time you refresh and carries attendant alt/title attributes and its appropriate hyperlink as well.

I'm very proud. More than I deserve to be, really.

I also did up a new template solely using css and php which I'll eventually use for MA. I went from an html page bloated with code for the menu, header, footer, etc. to a php file 1/4 in size.

[Chad]

Nice. and congratulations.

[Deb]

Our little baby is growing up

[Dave]

Yeah, it's so sad, isn't it?

PHP humbled me a few days ago, but I'm starting to get the hang of submission forms now. Some things seem really logical and/or intuitive. Others are just flat out humbling.

[Dave]

Learning object-oriented php now. You know, for a non-programmer like me, this stuff is frickin nuts. Cool, but somewhat difficult. On the other hand, I haven't fallen behind yet. I think the most frustrating thing is I can't do everything I want to do with it yet, but that's a matter of me not managing expectations properly.

[Deb]

I remember when I first took a look at learning PHP.

I also remember closing down the tutorial after 5 seconds.

Well done matey

[reboot]

hey that's pretty cool.

thanks for sharing.

later,

Stan #3

[Dave]

Oh trust me, the first time I tried to learn php from a book and some web tutorials and it got me nowhere. It really helps to have an actual person go through the stuff with you. I ask a lot of questions.

The thing that gets me is I'll code something and it'll work, but then there's something else that makes it faster/more secure/whatever and I'll add that, and then there's another something else that makes it faster/more secure/etc. I keep going back to this shopping cart interface, for example, because if I can nail that down, I'll have a fair shot at the other stuff I want to do.

I also think that most of the books/tutorials intended for beginners are very poor. And there is one very simple reason why. They give examples to illustrate a feature in each chapter. That's fine. So you'll have a chapter on arrays, one on classes, one on forms (if you're lucky), one on sql, etc. The examples in each of these chapters are very basic. What they forget to do is tie in all these concepts together. So you're left with trees but no forest. This is where a live person comes in extremely handy. I've been using 4 php books for reference (and another specifically for sql). Besides a renewed appreciation for the public library system, I've not found any single beginners book that stands out. Going back and forth between several has been helpful...I'll find a piece in one, a piece in another and together it will make sense, but I can't stress the importance of having a live person for feedback.

Maybe I'll upload my notes in the future.